Q:McDonald’s seems to be the latest in a trend of companies promoting greater transparency about their food. Is it true customers expect to know everything? And, if so, how do I respond?
A: Transparency is indeed an important and growing trend in many industries today. In fast food, perhaps the...

Pairing Colombia-sourced espresso with a cold-pressed carrot-pineapple juice may sound counterintuitive, but for Verve Coffee Roasters, the combination was a no-brainer. The Los Angeles–based operator partnered with another local quick serve, Juice Served Here, to open a 1,600-square-foot combo...

Kevin Kester’s family has been farming in the U.S. for generations. And it’s not just a couple of generations they’ve been farming; more like generations upon generations, way back to the 1600s, specifically in California since the 1860s. Today, Kester owns a 22,000-acre beef cattle ranch in...

No doubt you’ve heard about Shake Shack’s successful IPO and its $1.7 billion valuation. The burger stand that started in New York’s Madison Square Park and now has locations in places like Moscow, Istanbul, and Dubai has had a very big year.
What you may not have heard is the equally big news the...

Before the burrito was big, both in size and popularity, I remember my friends and I always going to get Mexican cuisine in Chicago. We would seek out places around the city, even going to more nontraditional areas around town, but we loved it; the more authentic, the better. I remember thinking...

Companies have good reasons for acquiring franchise brands. Often they see potential in a brand and hope to use their own resources to build it into a national contender.
Many brands, though, need a healthy dose of TLC after acquisition. And some companies have found that a good rebranding can...

In the restaurant industry, 60 percent of frontline managers are women. From the perspective of the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF), the figure signifies considerable progress since the organization was founded in 1989. Moving up the corporate ladder, only 15 percent of women hold leadership roles...

Though U.S. consumption is well below other proteins today, seafood will likely be an increasingly important part of the American diet in the years to come. The country’s population is predicted to grow by 89 million between 2010 and 2050 to 401 million people. More people require more food—and...

Smoothie Factory Juice Bar, a leading retailer of real fruit smoothies, fresh cold-squeezed juices, and nutritional products, is now open near the University of Arizona campus in Tucson. This new location is part of a seven-store multi-unit development agreement with franchisee John Wilfert, of...

Putting a new twist on a company classic, Whataburger's new Honey Mustard Whatachick'n Club is now available for a limited time. The perfectly balanced flavors feature a combination of the sweetness and tanginess found in Whataburger's Signature Honey Mustard.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) is recognizing the contributions of many dynamic women, who through their vision, hard work, and dedication, have achieved success in restaurants and made the industry a leader in the national economy.

Papa Murphy's Holdings Inc., the world's leading take 'n' bake pizza franchise, announces a new partnership with Nutritionix, the industry leader in interactive nutrition solutions. As the largest national pizza chain to partner with Nutritionix, Papa Murphy's has launched a mobile-friendly and...

Creamistry, a popular liquid nitrogen ice cream concept, announced its further expansion in the Southern California area with plans to open five new locations. Located in Beverly Hills, Mission Viejo, Rancho Cucamonga, and two in Costa Mesa, the new stores are expected to open throughout 2015....

Rita’s Franchise Company, the franchise company of the world’s largest Italian Ice concept, Rita’s Italian Ice, announced it completed a refinancing of the company’s debt with leading lenders SunTrust Bank and Spring Capital Partners. The refinancing comes on the heels of the company’s...

PizzaRev opened two franchise locations in San Diego earlier this month. The build-your-own artisanal pizza shops are located at Scripps Ranch and Carmel Valley. To mark its entrance into the communities, PizzaRev hosted grand opening fundraisers to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater...

Villa Enterprises, multi-brand restaurant operator and franchisor celebrating 50 years in business, announced Villa Italian Kitchen is now open with two new locations at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA). As part of ongoing efforts to provide world-class airport facilities to both passengers...

Having started as a sandwich maker with Subway when he was 18 years old, Gurpreet Singh has spent nearly half his life in the quick-service industry. Now a Checkers franchisee, Singh has spent time in every quick-serve job imaginable: line worker, manager, general manager, and, today, franchisee....

While the fast-casual category continues to be the fastest-growing industry sector, the road in 2015 will be bumpy. We will see constant change and challenges around every corner. For industry leaders, there are issues that will keep even the most seasoned executive awake at night.
Here is my top...

When Lori Newcomb found out she had stage III ovarian cancer last year, she made it her mission to learn more about the disease and help other women fighting the same battle. She sat down with her husband, Chris Newcomb, cofounder and CEO of Southern quick-service chain Newk’s Eatery, and together...

Like much of the rest of the economy, the 2008 economic meltdown brought a massive slow-down to the quick-service franchise industry. The combination of tightfisted money lenders and general economic uncertainty put franchise businesses in a near impossible position when it came to accessing...

What can I possibly tell you about potatoes, dear quick-serve industry professional, that you don’t already know? It’s not as though you’re unacquainted with America’s favorite starch. You may even know that it’s the world’s fourth-largest food crop, trailing behind only rice, corn, and wheat,...

What can I possibly tell you about potatoes, dear quick-serve industry professional, that you don’t already know? It’s not as though you’re unacquainted with America’s favorite starch. You may even know that it’s the world’s fourth-largest food crop, trailing behind only rice, corn, and wheat,...